Coming on the Gear 2, Spritz could make reading emails on a smartwatch a breeze

Everybody agrees that reading more than a few words on a tiny smartwatch screen is a pain. Reading lengthy emails or other long body of text is almost out of the question. Spritz can change that.

Spritz is a speed reading technology that app developers can integrate into their products. What Spritz does is completely change the way text is displayed for reading, by showing you just one word at a time. Here’s how the makers of the tech describe this “word streaming” technique:

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Now, with compact text streaming from Spritz, content can be streamed one word at a time, without forcing your eyes to spend time moving around the page. Spritz makes streaming your content easy and more comfortable, especially on small displays. Our “Redicle” technology enhances readability even more by using horizontal lines and hash marks to direct your eyes to the red letter in each word, so you can focus on the content that interests you. Best of all, Spritz’s patent-pending technology can integrate into photos, maps, videos, and websites to promote more effective communication.

According to Boston-based Spritz Inc, using this method can help you double your reading speed or more, without affecting comprehension. That’s possible thanks to the clever way words are centered in the reading box, which makes it possible to read without moving your eyes at all. That’s important because moving your eyeballs to focus on words is not only time consuming, but also the main cause of reading fatigue. This is how reading with this technique differs from regular reading:

Back at MWC, Samsung announced that its Galaxy S5 and Gear 2 smartwatch will be the first devices to make use of Spritz, and, seeing it in action makes us excited for the technology, especially when it comes to wearables applications. Here’s how the app works on a first-gen Gear, courtesy of Engadget.

And here are shots of Spritz integrated in Samsung’s email app on the S5 and on the Gear 2.

In the coming weeks, Spritz will release an SDK that will allow any dev to build its speed reading tech into their application. More than 12,000 devs have expressed interest in the SDK so far, and it’s easy to see why. And it’s not only for smartwatches, as Spritz could be integrated in a variety of apps, from messaging apps to ebook readers.

Why would I choose to read emails on a smaller screen than the one in my pocket? Smartwatches are supposed to alert you to these things, not replace your smartphone. These things have such an identity crisis. They’re trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

Jaime

You may be right. BUT this technology is awesome and could help to read (really fast) sms or emails during meetings or in places where you don’t want to take out your phone.

Aniruddh

Problems are easier created then found, aren’t they? Did you every need to check your email in your smartphone when smartphones were non-existent?
Smartwatches are cheaper, cooler and smaller than smartphones, so why not?

mustbepbs

Yeah, I did need to check my email on my smartphone, considering I wasn’t keen on lugging a laptop and mobile hotspot around in my bag. The smartphone solves the problems of people on the go, and has a hell of a lot more uses than a tiny screen on your wrist that, incidentally, requires your smartphone to do much of anything.

Aniruddh

I said when smartphones were NON-EXISTENT. I mean the pre-2007 era when everyone dumb phones.

mustbepbs

Your comment makes no sense. Have a nice day.

kas

You don’t have to, it’s merely an option and actually if you wanted to learn how to speed read this app is available for normal sized screens as well… and the gear 2 won’t replace your smartphone it will compliment it. It won’t be useful for all people and I won’t speak for them however I plan on getting one because they recently passed a hands free law in illinois… This would easily meet that requirement and bring additional functionality then a simple earpiece to my note 3… So yea it really depends on whether you have a use for it or not, either is ok

xd feng

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